Small forms known as eye floaters can look as dots, threads, or squiggly lines as they move across your field of vision.
When viewed against bright backdrops, like a white wall or a clear sky, they stand out more. When you try to focus on these shapes, they may seem to dart away because they move with your eyes.
Age-related alterations in the vitreous, a gel-like substance found inside the eye, are usually the source of floaters.
The vitreous gets more fluid with age, and its minute fibers may group together to cause shadows to appear on the retina. We think of these shadows as floaters.
Floaters may occasionally be connected to more severe illnesses including retinal tears or detachment, uveitis (eye inflammation), or eye infections.
Floaters are more common in certain people than others. Being nearsighted, having had cataract surgery, having diabetes (which can cause diabetic retinopathy), or being older may put you at higher risk.
